Vehicle-wheel.



P v. 5 F11 T. RHODUS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

' APPLICATION man NOV-1. 1915.

tural formation and combination of'parts in 1 fully appear.

ends to said hub and preferably formed of tread above referred to, is preferably of the suitable wear resisting material, with their FFIG. A

THOMAS RHODUS,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLOTTE C. RHODUS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed November 1, 1915. .Serial No. 58,955.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS RHoDUs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of resilient vehicle wheels in which the annular tread memberis yieldingly connected to the lnner member springs.

And the present improvement has for its object to provide a simple and efficient strucby a series of intermediate a resilient wheel, whereby the outer ends of the series of intermediate radially disposed spring members or spokes are attached to the tread member in a substantial manner.

Another obj ect is the means for tightening and holding together the series of blocks comprising the annular tread portionof the wheel structure, all as will hereinafter more In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is'an elevation illustrating the general arrangement of parts in the present wheel structure. v

Fig. 2, is an enlarged detail transverse section on line ac-a3, Fig. 1.

I parts in the i the wheel hub .is a detail side elevation of an Fig. 3, th

outer portion of the wheel structure, parts broken away and in section.

Similar reference numerals indicate like several views. Referring to thedrawings, 1 designates the wheel hub of a usual form, and 2 aseries of resilient spokes secured at their irmer sinuously shaped bars of resilient material, preferably spring steel. Said spokes 2 constitute the resilient means by which the wheel tread is operatively associated with to absorb the varying impacts to which the wheel tread is exposed in actual use upon rough roadways, and as usual in the present type of-wheels.

In the present lmprovement the wheel detail sectional formation now to be described.

3 designates a plurality ofsector shaped blocks orsections, formed of any usual an abutting faces preferably formed on lines radial with the axis of the wheel structure so that when connected together by a pair of connecting rings 4 attheir opposite sides an annular tread structure is formed which is adaptedto resist distortion from a normal circular form under the varying stresses met with in actual use. 5 designates circumferential recesses or grooves formed in the opposite sides of the annular tread member-blocks 3 aforesaid, for the reception ofthe connecting rings 4 above referred to. In the preferred form of the present invention said recesses form an inclined plane as shown in Fig. 2, to correspond with the shape in cross-section of the preferred'form of connecting rings l. 6 designates transverse recesses formed in some of the sector shaped blocks 8 aforesaid, preferably in the contacting faces of pairs of adjacent blocks 3, so that the individual recess in one block in connection with the like individual recess in an adjacent block 3 will constitute a single receiving recess for the outer end of an individual spoke 2 aforesaid.

In the preferred form of the present invention shown in Figs. 2 and 8, the pair'of laterally alined connecting rings 4 aforesaid, are of an angular form in cross-section and have'inclined inner faces formed by the inner edges of'the two component and angularly disposed .webs of each connecting ring 4. Said inclined inner faces of the connecting rings I have bearing, against the outwardly disposed] inclined faces of the circumferential recesses or grooves 5 of the sectional treadmember, so that as said pair of connecting rings 4 are drawn toward each other, by means hereinafter described, the action will be to draw the series of tread blocks 3 toward the axis of the wheel structure and bind said blocks together into a rigid annular structure.

7 designates a'plurality of transverse ad justing bolts passing preferably through suitably formed orifices in the side webs of the connecting rings 4: aforesaid, and in adjacent tread blocks 3, and adapted in their adjustment to draw the connecting rings 4% together in manner and for the purpose above stated and also to connect them and the wheel tread to the spokes 2.

In the present improvement the series of resilient spokes 2 may be of any usual form, preferably the serpentine flat bar form illusmember and trated in Fig. 1, with their outer ends arranged in the before described series of receiving recesses 6 of the tread blocks 3 to afford an effective engagement of said spokes with the tread member.

8 designates a pair of laterally alined recesses formed near the outer end of the resilient spokes aforesaid, and adapted for holding engagement with the peripheral web portions of the pairfof connecting rings 4: aforesaid, to provide a substantial connec-' tion between the parts and permit of an adjustment of said confining rings 4- toward each other.

Having thus fullydescribed my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wheel, the combination of a wheel center, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with said blocks, and connecting means between said tread member and the wheel center, said con necting means being adapted to hold said tread member against sidewise movement while permitting sidewise adjustment .of said holding rings, substantially asset forth.

2. In a wheel, the combination of a wheel center, an annular tread member comprising av series of blocks having circumferential recesses in their opposite sides and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated wit-h said blocks, and connecting means between said tread member and the wheel center aforesaid, all portions of said blocks except the portions in said recesses being held away from contact with said holding rings, substantially as set forth.

3. In a wheel tread, the combination of an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks, a pair of rigid laterally-alined holding rings associated "with said series of blocks, said blocks extending laterally inside of said rings and beyond the parts of said rings which are nearest the centers of said rings, substantially as set forth.

4. In a wheel tread, the combination of an annular member comprising a series of blocks formed with circumferential recesses in their opposite sides, a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with saidblocks, each of said rings being formed with a depressed part held away from said blocks by and between two projecting contact faces, both of said faces having contact with said blocks wholly in said recesses, substantially as set forth. 7 I

5. In a wheel, the combination of a wheel center, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks, a alined holding rings having contact with said blocks, and a series ofconnecting means between said wheel center and said tread extending into recesses in said connecting means having enblocks, said pair of rigid laterally gagement with said holding rings, substantially as set forth.

6. In a wheel, the combination of a wheel center, an annular tread member comprising series of blocks having inclined planes in circumferential recesses in their opposite sides and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding'rings associated with said blocks,

and connecting means between said tread member and the'wheel' center aforesaid, no portion of said blocks except the said in clined planes having contact with said holding rings, substantially as set forth.

7. In a wheel, the

and said holding i combination of a wheel I center, an annular tread member comprismg Ina wheel, the combination of a hub,

an annular tread member comprising aseries ofblocks and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with oppo site sides of said blocks, and'a series of spokes between the tread member and the hub aforesaid, the outer ends of said spokes engaging some of said blocks, substantially as set forth. I

- 9. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with opposite sides of said blocks, a series of transverse bolts adapted to hold said rings to the sides of said blocks, said rings having extensions overhanging the outer'ends of said bolts, and intermediate means res'liently connecting the tread member and hub aforesaid, sub stantially as 'set forth.

10. In a wheel, the combination an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks and a pair of rigid laterallyalined holding rings associated with opposite sides of said blocks, a series of transverse bolts adapted to hold said rings to the sides of said blocks, said tread member extending sidewise as far as one end of each of said bolts, and intermediate means resiliently connecting the tread member aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

11; In a wheel, the combination of a hub, an annular tread member comprising a series of blocks and a pair of rigid laterally alined holding rings associated with opposite sides of said blocks, portions of said blocks extending sidewise inside of said rings beyond a portion ofthat part of said rings nearest the hub, and intermediate meansresilientlv connecting the tread member and substantially asset forth. the combination of hub,

of a hub, I

and the hub an annular tread member comprising a series blocks, and intermediate means resiliently of blocks and a-pair of rigid laterally alined connecting the tread member and the hub holding rings associated with opposite sides aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

of said blocks, portions of said blocks eX- Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 29th day 10 5 tending as far inwardly toward the hub as of October, 1915.

the portion of said rings adjacent to said THOMAS RHODUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0'" Patents, Washington, D. G. 

